Walton County departments seek targeted hires: planning short‑term‑rental team, library teen‑center staff and TDC-funded enforcement support

County staff walked commissioners through department-level changes in the proposed FY27 budget, highlighting staffing requests tied to specific programs and fee revenues.

Planning’s short‑term rental program requested two additional FTEs that staff said would be funded by short‑term‑rental fees; the presenter explained those fees cover the personnel costs and that, if the hires are not approved, the unspent fee revenue would return to the general fund.

Code enforcement showed a personnel-services increase tied to seasonal beach ambassador activity and other enforcement work; staff said the Tourist Development Council (TDC) portion funding beach‑related enforcement for this fiscal year is $2,244,006.45 and noted that some positions are split between beach (TDC‑funded) and street code functions.

The library department’s FY27 personnel increases reflect operations of a new teen center in Freeport; staff said three FTEs were added when the facility became operational and that the positions had been included in the prior year’s budget once the teen center came online.

Commissioners asked whether the short‑term‑rental program “pays for itself.” The presenter confirmed fees fund the two requested positions but noted that, if those hires are not filled, that revenue becomes available for other uses such as roads and recreation. One commissioner said planning and parks are too busy to function with fewer staff and argued the county needs to retain capacity for growth and code enforcement.

No hiring decisions were made during the workshop; staff advised commissioners to review online budget line items for more detail and said additional workshops will allow reviewers to drill into department budgets before final decisions.